|
By Ma. Ester L. Espina Correspondent
BACOLOD CITY: Negros Occidental
Governor Joseph Marañon confirms that based on a study of the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), which the provincial
government had commissioned, a majority of the agrarian
beneficiaries have not benefited at all in so far as improvement in
their quality of lives as a result of CARP.
The Province of Negros Occidental
has submitted its findings on the agrarian reform program before the
House of Congress for deliberation amid a lobby to have the program
extended for another five years.
The provincial government
commissioned a study to assess the effects of the program amid
strong allegations that most of the beneficiaries have leased back
or sold their rights to the land and went back to farm labor.
Marañon said the study proved
there is a need for government to strengthen support services rather
than focus on land distribution if the intention is to improve
people’s quality of life and get them out of poverty.
The study conducted by the
Provincial Planning and Development Program also disputed DAR
records that identified more than 111,000 beneficiaries in Negros
Occidental but of which actual census showed that there are only a
little over 78,000 persons who benefited from it.
Discrepancy in DAR records also
led to the discovery of beneficiaries holding multicertificates of
land ownership (CLOA), with one in Cadiz City whose name appeared in
all 19 such documents.
The study also revealed that some
beneficiaries who have been awarded lands have not received their
CLOAs yet while there are also some who have had CLOAs but still
have to get their lands and others still who are listed as
beneficiaries but have not seen any CLOAs nor were given any land.
The provincial government has
been beset with problems regarding the CARP implementation
particularly on the failure of local government units in collecting
real property taxes from CARP beneficiaries, which has so far
reached more than P2 billion.
With 50 percent of the property
tax collection automatically allocated for special education funds,
there appeared an apparent loss of P1 billion intended to improve
the educational system.
The study conducted by the
provincial government will also be submitted to the Senate as well
as to President Gloria Arroyo if and when she comes for the opening
of the New Bacolod-Silay Airport of International Standards.
|
